Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/60

( 30 ) Mr. Millar says, that a quarrel happened between the people of Old and New Town, which prevented the ships lying in Calabar river from being slaved. He believes in June 1767, Captain S. Sparkes, (captain of his ship, the Canterbury) came one evening to him, and told him that the two towns, so quarrelling, would meet on board the different ships, and ordered him to hand up some swords.

The next day several canoes, as Sparkes had before advertised him, came from both of the towns, on board the Canterbury, Mr. Millar's own ship, and one of the persons so coming on board, brought a letter, which he gave Sparkes, immediately on the receipt of which, he, Sparkes, took a hanger, and attacked one of the Old Town people then on board, cutting him immediately on the arms, head, and body. The man fled, ran down the steps leading to the cabin, and Sparkes still following him with the hanger, darted into the boys room. Mr. Millar is sure this circumstance can never be effaced from his memory. From this room he was however brought up by means of a rope, when Sparkes renewed his attack as before, on him, who, making for the entering port, leaped overboard.

This being concluded, Sparkes left his own ship to go on board some of the other ships, then lying in the river. Soon after he was gone, a boy belonging to Mr. Millar's ship, came and informed him, Mr. Millar, that he had discovered a man concealed behind the medicine chest. Mr. Millar went and found the man. He was the person before-mentioned to have brought a letter on board. On being discovered by Mr. Miliar, he begged for mercy, intreating [sic] that he might not be delivered up to the people of New Town. He was brought on the quarter-deck, where were some of the New Town people, who would have killed him, had they not been prevented. The man was then ironed, and conducted into the room of the men slaves.

Soon after this transaction, the captain returned, and brought with him a New Town trader, named Willy Honesty. On coming on board, he was informed of what had happened in his absence, and Mr. Millar